Small flashlight structure



Feb. 27, 1945.

P. WlMPFHElMER .ET AL SMALL FLASHLIGHT STRUCTURE Filed May 18, 1942 Patented F eb. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT l OFFICE SMALL FLASHLIGHT STRUCTURE Paul Wimpiheimer and Magda Wimpfheimer,

New York, N. Y., now by judicial change of name Paul Wimpfen and Magda Wimpfen Application May 18, 1942. Serial No. 443,356

Claims. (Cl. 24U- 10) This invention relates to simplified flashlight structures for use in blackouts, for military, war

and police usage, for emergency and signalling lights, as well as for other purposes. Because of the specific structure and shape of the new flashlight, of the weight and simplicity of operation it can be utilized in the conventional manner and also in certain applications. The new flashlight or lamp structure has as one of its objects that it is capable, inter alia, of being secured,

within `easy reach and ready for instantaneous use, in such manner that it becomes neither obstructive nor conspicuous which is a desirable feature when lamps are used for emergency illumination, decorative and signalling purposes. Another object of the invention is to provide a lamp equipped with stationary or detachable, moving and/or interchangeable coloring means and with a dimming system which may be used for light signalling in Morse code or the like. A further object of the invention is to provide a lamp with suitable transparent or non-transparent means for producing illuminated letters or signs.

The lamps with flashlights to which this in' vention relates may be used both as separate units or as component parts of or attachments.

for vestments or other objects, such as figures, statues, ornaments and the like.

The simple structural arrangement consists of a few parts only, namely shells of special shape, dry cells, conductors and switches for same, contacts and bulbs. The conductors, switches and contacts are arranged in a compact manner suitable for the particular purpose and the light source or bulb is either stationary or removable, depending on the intended use of the device. The shells for the dry cells as well as the said iigures, statues, ornaments and the like are so designed that they are just suiiiciently large to enclose commercial dry cells oi minimum size, besides some extremely flat contacts, conductors and bulbs or threaded plugs used in connection with said dry cells so that the whole unit thus obtained is reduced to a minimum of volume or space.

The invention opens novel and practical possibilities of using ashlights. A novel feature to which we attach considerable importance is the embodiment of our invention comprising a but ton or button hole light, which is particularly suitable for black out purposes and for war, military and police usage. This device may, for example, be used to produce signals by persons who are wounded and wish to attract aid. In connection with the button or button hole light, the

special bulb may be disposed, almost invisibly, in the button hole. However, it may also be fastened in the form of a badge or insignia and be provided with or without illuminated lettering. Finally, it may be made to produce a luminescent effect. The small shell for the dry cell may be invisibly disposed below the lapel or the like and the light source may be actuated with one hand only. With this arrangement it is possible to transmit light signals, either in Morse code or otherwise, in any desired light color. The aforesaid button or button hole light may also be designed in such manner as to be waterproof.l Furthermore, the said button or button hole light may be developed as stick pins and membership buttons and may be provided with any suitable means for coloring the light and with relief or illuminating letters ofy transparent or non-transparent type. The special bulbs may be housed within any desired shell and may be provided with suitable peripheral frames or linings. The said peripheral frames or linings oier a variety of novel possibilities. The ashlights may be patterned after any desired form, figure, statue, ornament or object, for example after animals, vehicles, persons, dolls, owers, or rosettes and the bulbs may in such event be used to form complementary parts of or attachments for such objects, for example illuminatable eyes, automobile headlights and so forth. The iiashlight may also be developed in such fashion that it permits of being fastened to garments, or the like, by means of pins or clasps. Furthermore, the said flashlight may be housed within or attached to such objects as watches, umbrella handles, canes, crutches, pocket books or even shoes for persons of poor eyesight, key holes, key chains and cases, tools, toys and the like. Finally, the device may be used as a separate toy or as a clip and, moreover, as an electrical testing instrument.

Hai/ing described the principle and the object as well as some of the many uses of our invention, We shall now explain, by way of example, some of the embodiments with the aid of the appended drawing.

Fig. 1 represents a toy ligure in which the flashlight according to this invention is housed;

Fig. 2 represents a side elevational view in section of the iiashlight as arranged in the toy gure of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 represent details of the ashlight shown in modified form;

Fig. 6 represenv a front view of the flashlight as applied to the lapel of a `acket (partly shown) Fig. 7 represents a cross-sectional view of the flashlight structure shown in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 2, I represents a tubular flashlight shell or holder, 2 a cover for same. 3 a metallic strip which extends inside the said shell and has an elastic terminal 4 for operation with one of the poles of the dry cell battery l, the projecting outside portion 3a of the said metallic strip 3 being designed to support and form the socket of lamp ,bulb 1 illustrated in Fig. 1. An additional f metallic strip 8 extends from the lamp bulb socket 5 through the cap 2. Metallic strip or conductor 8 is connected with terminal or contact piece 8 anchored in cover 2. Within shell I, there is slidably inserted dry cell battery 8 (indicated in dot and dash line), one pole III of which being in contact with terminal 9. The other pole II of battery s maybe brought inengagement and out of engagement with elastic terminal I of metallic strip 3. Metallic strip 3 contributes to the frictional engagement of battery l in shell I whereby said battery may be retained in said shell with the result that it is possible to either produce a flickering eilect of bulb 1 upon pressing elastic terminal 4 for engagement with and subsequent releasing the same from battery pole II or to obtain a continuous illumination by retaining end I3 in contact with pole II, as may be accomplished by any appropriate known means.

Shell I and its cover 2 may consist of any sultable insulating material, such as cardboard, fiber and like material.

Fig. 1 shows a toy figure Bin the form of a dog, in the interior of which the flashlight structure shown in Fig. 2 is disposed. Between bulb 1 and socket 5. there is flxedly attached (preferably to the pointed end of bulb 1) a retainer ring 'Ia of any suitable material forming the contour of an eye of the toy gure and keeping in position the material of the toy figure through which the pointed end of bulb 1 projects. Elastic terminal 4 may be connected with a movable or swingable body part I5 of the toy figure which part may be swung towards and from terminal I I of battery 8. whereby make and break of contact between terminal l and pole II may be had. thereby producing .flickering light eflects inbulb 1 of toy B.

Fig. 3 shows the flashlight structure of Fig. 2

in a modied form. Within shell I there extends metal strip 23 having the terminal 2l which is elastic and swingable about its bent portion 24a. The forward end 23a of metal strip 23 overlaps the forward end of shell I and is flxedly con-4 nected with conductor 25. Cover 2 of shell I is supported by metal strip 28 which terminates into S-shaped end 29. The other endof strip 28 forms the socket 5a for the insertion of an electric bulb (not shown). It is well understood that the free end 25a of conductor 25 may be fixed to one pole of the bulb, -whereas the socket 5a may be connected to the other pole of the said bulb.

Figs. 6 and '7 illustrate a further application of a flashlight structure. There is arranged a metallic socket 5I having inserted therein bulb 52. One terminal of bulb 52 is in contact with metal strip 53 extending through-shell I in a, manner similar to the strip 3 lshownin Figs. 2 and 3. An elastic terminal 5I forming one end of said metal strip 5l may be brought into and out-of-engagement with a, pole of Athe dry cell battery 6 inserted in shell I, the other pole of the dry cell battery being connected by means of metal strip 55 to socket 5I, in a manner similar to metal strip 8 or 28 of Figs. 2 and 3. respectively. so that the electric circuit to bulb 52 may be operated by moving terminal 54 to and fro the adjacent pole of dry cell battery I.

Tip or pointed end 55 of' bulb 52 carries a.`

retainer ring or abutting means in the form of a frame 51 into which said tip projects. The front of said frame may have the form of a petal 58 provided with a central opening 59 through which the light rays of bulb 52 may pass. Frame 51 may be adhesively fixed to said tip 55 as at 51a, in a manner similar to that referred to with respect to ring member 1a of Fig. 1. Within the space between frame 51 fixed to the pointed or tapered end of bulb 52 and the socket 5I, there may be accommodated the thickness of the material of lapel 50, forming, in this instance. the support of the remainder oi the flashlight structure (Fig. 7). Within frame 51 and rotatably mounted on stud SII which is supported by hollow frame 51, there is disposed a disk 5I which is adapted to be moved between opening 59 of frame 51 and bulb tip '55. Disk 5I is eccentrically positioned with respect to bulb tip 55 and projects through slot 52 of frame 51 for operation by the ngers of a person. As may be seen in Fig. 6, disk 5I carries a plurality of different colored transparent plates 53 which may be consecutively brought into registry with opening 55 of the petal surface of frame 51 to produce amv desirable colored light effects.

It is well apparent-that instead of one bulb several bulbs may be operated simultaneously or subsequently one after the other. These bulbs may constitute eye or eyes of a toy figure or doll or any complementary part of a flower, ornament, etc.

Various changes in the form and details of the flashlight structures and their operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A ashlight structure adapted for connection with a support comprising a tubular housing having an open end and a closed end opposite said open end, a first conductor having a free arm forming a ilrst terminal, said rst conductor being anchored on one of the ends of said housing and being provided with an extension projecting from within said housing therewithout, a second conductor having a free arm forming a secf ond terminal and being provided with an extension projecting from within said housing therewithout, a socket, said extensions of said first conductor and of said second conductor terminating into respective poleslof said socket, a bulb insertable into said socket and having a free forward end, the arms of both said conductors being adapted for contact with the poles of a dry cell battery when received in said housing through said open end, one of said arms being swingably arranged at said open end of said housing and being adapted to retain the battery within said housing, said one arm operating a circuit from the battery through said conductors to the bulb in said'socket, to thereby produce a light effect at said support, and means secured adjacent the free forward end of said bulb to retain the remainder of said flashlight structure connected to said support from which the forward end of said bulb projects.

2. A flashlight structure adapted for connection with a support comprising a housing having an open end. a cover connected to said housing and closing the end positioned opposite said open end, a first conductor having a free arm forming a iirst terminal, said first conductor being anchored at least on one of said ends of said housing and provided with an extension projecting beyond said housing, a second conductor having a free arm forming a second terminal and provided with an extension projecting beyond said housing, a socket, said extension of said rst conductor and said extension of said second conductor terminating into respective poles of said socket, a bulb attachable to said socket and provided with a tip, the free arms of both of said conductors being adapted for contact with the poles cfa' dry cell battery when received in said housing through said open end, one of said arms being swingably and springedly arranged at the open end of said housing and retaining the battery within said housing, said one arm being adapted to operate the circuit from the battery through said terminals of said conductors to the bulb in said socket, whereby a light effect may be produced at said support, and retainer means secured to the tip of the bulb and projecting beyond said tip, said retainer means including translucent means for changing the light effect of the light rays emitted by said bulb.

3. A ashlight structure adapted for connection with a support comprising a housing having an open end and a closed end opposite said open end, a first conductor having a free arm forming a first terminal, said iirst conductor being iixed to said housing and provided with an extension projecting beyond said housing, a second conductor iixed to said housing and having a free arm forming a second terminal, said second conductor being provided with an extension projectlng beyond said housing, a socket, said extension of said iirst conductor and said extension oi' said second conductor terminating into respectivev poles of said socket, a bulb insertable into said socket and having a free end, the arms of both of said conductors being adapted for contact with the poles of a dry cell battery when received in said housing through said open end, one of said arms being swingably arranged at said open end of said housing and retaining the battery within said housing, said one arm being adapted to operate the circuit from the battery through said arms of said conductors to said bulb in said socket, to thereby produce a light effect at said support, and abutting means secured to the tree end of said bulb, whereby the remainder of said flashlight structure may be retained at said support.

4. A flashlight structure adapted for connection with a support comprising a tubular housing. a rst conductor having a free arm forming a first terminal, said iirst conductor being carried by said housing and being provided with an extension projecting beyond said housing, a second conductor having a free arm forming a second terminal and provided with an extension projecting beyond said housing, a socket, said extensions being arranged outside of said housing to terminate into respective poles of said socket, a bulb adapted to be held in position in said socket and provided with a tip, the free arms of said conductors being adapted for Contact with the poles of a dry cell battery when received in said housing, one of said arms being swingably and springedly arranged on one end of said housing for retaining the battery within said housing and for opening and closing the circuit from the battery to the bulb to thereby produce a light effect at said tip on said support, and means fixed to the tip of said bulb to retain the re mainder of said bulb connected to said support. 5. A toy figure or like article provided in its interior with a battery, a bulb and conductor for completing the electric circuit from said battery to said bulb; the outer surface of said article being provided with an opening in one end thereof and with a perforation adjacent the opposite end thereof, an insulating holder for said battery and having an open end, `said open end of said holder being disposed at said opening, whereby said battery may pass through said opening for insertion in said holder and for removal therefrom, a portion of said bulb projecting outwardly from the interior of the article through said perforation, a retaining member for holding said bulb portion in position on said article at said perforation, and an extension connected to one of said conductors and arranged for swinging movement adjacent said open end for contact with said battery and for retaining said battery when insertedin said holder, said extension being operable from the outside of said article to open and close the circuit to said bulb to thereby produce light effects on the surface of said toy figure or article.

PAUL WIMPFHEIMER. MAGDA WIMPFHEIMER. 

